Believed to have been the Son of Cardinal Wolsey by "one Larck's
daughter". The fact that he was obliged at a latter date to obtain a
dispensation points to some stigma upon his birth.

1511-He held a corrody at Evesham
which he resigned in April this year.

1519-He is known to be studying at
Louvain before November this year.

Through the Cardinal's influence he received many preferment's.

1522-1528 He is known to have
received twenty ecclesiastical positions. Dispite the fact that it is
doubtful he even took deacon's orders.

1526-On his appointment to the
Deanery of Wells he received a grant of arms which closely resembled
Wolsey's, and in the same year a dispensation was sought of him.

1528-Wolsey suggested that Wynter
should be made Bishop of Durham an office the Cardinal contemplated
resigning.

During all this time Wynter was pursuing his studies at Louvain,
Padua, Ferrara, Poissy and Paris. Like many scholars, he paid no
attention to business matters, so ever lacked money. In Paris he
lived magnificently, associating with the highest in the land,
recognised as the Cardinal's kinsman. His frequent requests for money
disturbed Wolsey, who fell into the habit of asking any friend
passing through Paris to report on Wynter's establishment.

1529-The Cardinal's fall made
changes in Wynter's position.

1532-3 Obtained a licence to remain
abroad and to travel with a retinue of three servants, four horses or
geldings, ambling or trotting, and baggage as usual. He retired to
Padau, where he lived wretchedly, lacking both clothes and money, and
subjected to the insolence of Bonner, whom the Cardinak, just before
he died had commended him "quasi fratrem frati. "He threatened to
have Wynter deprived of his preferment's, and wrote home complaining
of Wynter's treatment of him.

1534-Returned from the Continent in
the middle of this year, when pressing business called him to
England. Including writing several pathetic letters to Thomas
Cromwell describing his state of poverty and begging assistance, in
response he received a few benefices of little value.

Wynter writes that he had not yet been admitted as priest.
Although he had held man y ecclesiastical positions.

1537- October he obtained the
Archdeaconry of Cornwall. There is reason to believe he accepted it
eagerly, not with the intention of assuming the duties of his office,
but as a marketable commodity; possibly he had already agreed to
transfer it to Thomas Body in consideration of the payment of certain
debts and a margin of cash; if not the promptitude of the striking of
the bargain is not easily explained.

"granted, demised, betaken and to farm letten" to William Body
"his said Archdeaconry in Cornwall and his prebend in the Collegial
Church in Glasney, otherwise called Penryn in Cornwall annexed to the
same Archdeaconry, and all manner manors, woods, underwoods, timber,
trees, profits, procurations, oblations, emoluments and commodities
to the same Archdeaconry and prebend belonging; together with the
advowson and patronage of a priory called seynte Jones yn Helstone
belonging to the same Archdeaconry together also with all maner
proxes Synages, probates of testaments, administrations,
dilapidations, inductions, corrections, commutations, citations,
suspensions, excommunication's, monitions, compulsory decrees,
sentances and all and singular profits of the seal belonging to the
same Archdeaconry, visitations and the making instituting and putting
in and putting out of all manner officials, registers, seals and all
manner other offices and offices, etc,etc for three years and so from
three years unto three years then next following during the term of
xxxv years"

Afterward Body stated that he had laid out £90 i.e the annual
rent for three years served on Wynter, and had also paid the Ten ths
and Subsidy, amounting to £9 11s 2d. Altogether it looks as if
Body had made an expensive bargain.

The indentures, it is said, were signed in Body's house in London,
but there is a conflict of evidence as to what happened on that
occasion. On Wynter's behalf it is said by Falk Aphowell that Body
brought Wynter a bill of attorney, which the latter looked at and
said he could not "skill the sums" so it must be withdrawn.

Another testified that Wynter had agreed to a certain lease, but
that Body had devised a pair of indentures "clean contary"
disagreeing from the agreement, and that Wynter, "not thinking but
that the said complainant had faithfully and truly caused the said
indentures to be made," had signed them only to find later that they
were not such as had been represented.

But a doubt as to the validity of the sale must have been in
Wynters mind, for, before signing the agreement, he had desired Body
to "axe thadvyse of such persons as knew the spirituall lawe" dealing
with the subject. Body promptly assured him that he had already
consulted Drs Hewis, Olyver and Darell, (counsellors in the lawe for
the kings parte, when Cranmer, at Dunsyable, pronounced the decree of
divorce of Queen Katherine ) who decalred that it would stand - a
decision which they afterwards denied having given. "Very well" then
said Wynter, "you must keep me harmless against the Bishop of Exeter
and his successors for and concerning the said Archdeaconry". To
which, it was asserted, Body agreed, and proceeded to act as
Archdeacon.

1540-20th December. Bishop Veysey
issued first a "writ citory" of this date, directed to John Harry's,
late of Penryn, clerk, bachelor of law, the Bishop's commissary
general, to John Bostock, late of Exeter, gent. and to clerks and
scholars throughout his diocese, commanding them to bring the
citation to the notice of Thomas Wynter, who was thereby summoned to
appear before the said Bishop at Penryn, on the 17th February
following there to answer for indulging in prohibited games and in
other things contrary to the office of am archdeacon and the honesty
of a clerk. Having summoned Wynter to answer a charge of evil living
the Bishops principal registrar, proceeded to charge him , among the
things contrary to the office of an archdeacon, with having let to
farm the ecclesiastical and spiritual jurisdiction belonging to the
archdeaconry to William Body,

1541-17th Feb-Apparently John Broke,
who appeared as Wynter's deputy at Penryn, was not prepared for all
the charges, so simply asked for a copy of the articles. Thereupon
Brerewood proceeded to deprive Body of the farm of the Archdeaconry,
to his great loss, as he afterwards complained. Wynter, finding his
sale condemned in the Episcopal Court, and failing to prove that the
indentures were subtly devised and nor faithfully and truly executed
according to the agreements with Body, now authorised others to hold
his archdeaconry and act for him in future. perhaps by the advice of
the Bishop he appointed as his deputies John Harrys, alias Rowden,
clerk. and George Stapleton. the former was prebendary of St Thomas
of Glasney, superior of the Hospital of St John next Helston., one of
the benefices appertaining to the archdeaconry, and , as we have
seen, the Bishops commissary in Cornwall named in the writ citatory,
while George Stapleton was the Bishops servant who received Body's
payments at Crediton (See William Body File Christmas 1540).

March 1541-Wynter by his own hand
gave Stapleton his "deed patent" in the house of one Grey, in Fleet
Street.

John Harrys, alias Rowden and George Stapleton set out for
Launceston , the place fixed for the archidiaconal visitation. Nor
were they the only persons to arrive from a distance in that border
town. (see William Body file to pick up the story).